Serena C.

Going into Fred Hutch, I didn’t know what to expect. I know you’ve probably heard that line about a million times, but it’s true. Julu 27th felt a little like the first day of school. I remember stressing over what to wear. A T-shirt seemed too casual, a button up seemed too formal, and a sweater would’ve been perfect for Bellevue’s unusually gloomy summer weather, except I didn’t own one. I eventually settled on a crewneck with my high school’s name proudly displayed across the front. The irony was that I’d be transferring schools the following year. I arrived at 8:42. Was it too early? What if I was the first one there? So you can imagine relief when I walked in and found the other Explorers already sitting around a table. I hadn’t attended orientation, so I didn’t know anyone. I quietly sat down next to a girl and asked, “Are we supposed to write our name on the board?” On the whiteboard was the question of the day: How does a giraffe wear a tie? “There’s only one right answer,” the girl next to me–Laya–called. I looked up. She was the only person who thought a giraffe would wear its tie under its chin. I wrote my name on the other side (sorry, Laya). “Why would a giraffe wear its tie up there?” That one question was enough to break the silence, and suddenly everyone was debating giraffe clothing etiquette. Looking back, that moment perfectly captured the atmosphere of the Summer Explorers Program. Everyone was curious, willing to speak up, and excited to exchange ideas–even over something as ridiculous as a giraffe wearing a tie.

My name is Serena, and I’m a rising sophomore. Before this program, most of my interests centered on public health and epidemiology. During these two weeks, however, I was introduced to an entirely different side of biomedical research. For the first time, I learned techniques like micropipetting, gel electrophoresis, and among my favorite, polymerase chain reaction with the BRCA1 mutation. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a fast method to make millions or billions of copies of a single small piece of DNA. In that lab, we used template DNA, PCR-grade water, and Taq DNA polymerase to successfully copy the BRCA gene.

One experience I’ll never forget was visiting the C. elegans lab. I’ve recently become interested in neuroscience, and my time at Fred Hutch has made that interest even stronger. Between touring the Allen Institute, visiting both the C. elegans and zebrafish labs, and hearing Dr. Charu’s presentation, I found myself constantly asking new questions. The C. elegans lab fascinated me the most. There, Dr. Manuel excitedly explained how the worms’ neural activity nearly shut down when deprived of oxygen, yet normal brain function returned once oxygen was restored. I left the lab amazed, and it wasn’t because I had all the answers, but because I suddenly had so many more questions. It reminded me that the most exciting part of science is discovering what you still don’t know.

Picture of a C. elegan worm from the tour.

Our session posing for a group picture!

As incredible as the science was, what also stood out to me here was the people. Everyone I met was genuinely curious, hardworking, passionate, and incredibly welcoming. Although I tend to be one of the quieter people in a classroom, this environment encouraged me to speak up and ask questions. Whether we were discussing the hallmarks of cancer or debating how a giraffe should wear its tie, there never felt like a “wrong” answer existed. When I walked into Fred Hutch on the first morning, I worried about what to wear, whether I'd arrived too early, and whether I'd fit in. Two weeks later, I leave with new interests, new friends, and a lot more questions than I came with. But perhaps most importantly, I leave with the confidence to ask questions and embrace not knowing the answer. And if there’s one thing being at Fred Hutch has taught me, it’s this: curiosity is something you choose, over and over again. You just have to keep asking why?